In 1999 i used to live in Golder's Green and I was able to open an account within a month.

Meanwhile The banking laws in UK changed .As a result of the newly passed Anti-Terror Acts a foreigner has to live at least one year in UK and prove an employment.

As far as I know HSBC(Hong Kong & Singapore Corp.) has branches in USA(for private customers...i saw them in Beverly Hills).

You could try to open account at HSBC.
I managed to do this in Chelsea in 2003(after passing of the new laws) as i showed them bank statements of Bank of America.
You are an American...i do not need to teach you!
NEVER TAKE "NO FOR NO"!

you live in New York(according to your profile) and you know how difficult is to receive a permanent residence for USA(the so called Green Card).

It is difficult even for English people,who do not have immediate realtives in US.

It is comprechendable that Bulgarians want the "Green Card" as in the States they will be earnung three times more than in Bulgaria...but bear in mind...the living Expenses in USA are much higher than in Bulgaria.

I do not know in which part of NY you live,but you know in Manhattan you do not get a flat for less than $800,-And this will be somewhere close to the Cloisters or Fort Lee(Upper Manhattan).

The Bulgarian Legislative was reformed already in preparation for entry into the EU.

The laws of Criminal Procedure were completely overhauled,abridged,supplemented or new rules added.
And all this under the request of the EU to create a Judicial System in Bulgaria,which swifts the cases through the Courts and issues verdicts(especially for petty crimes and misdemeanors)
in relativelly short time.
You quess why?

To save money for a slow-grinding Judicial System.

Dynamic Prosecution-minded judges are in all West-European and North-American jurisdictions.

Juries are NOT appointed in all cases and in my opinion it is correct as it does not make sense to waste resources if the issue of the case is clear and a verdict can be issued without having a bad conscience.

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